OFB, he must have left after he took training this morning, strange 🤔.
Come on BORO.
@martin-bellamy Be glad you can still remember 1970.
I was nine then and at school for many more years. Didn’t even know where is Boro. That happened later, in the mid-1970's ...
Up the Boro!
It’s weird isn’t it? Half of our supporters seem to think we should ditch CW because he’s useless, whilst the other half think he’s top of the list for the Bournemouth job!
Paradoxically it could be the same half failing to see the irony of their position on him...
😀you’ve got to laugh at these reports haven’t you. I suppose it stems from the local journos having nothing to do when the internationals are on
The positive is that we have a manager who is in demand rather than one who isn’t. A couple of wins and it’ll be a different world !
OFB
OFB, a couple of wins and he will be more in demand 😂😂😂.
Come on BORO.
Been out of the loop for a few days and so only just caught up with everyone's thoughts in here.
Thanks for the opener OFB - quality as always.
I am surprised that no one has yet mentioned Ken's favorite oxymoron... is this our first six-pointer of the season?
Unless there is a big turn around in our performance to date, I can't see us winning this one.
Agree with OFB and others that midfield is biggest concern. Whether Luongo is the answer to our problems.... I have no idea. However, something needs to be changed and I would be a happy to see that. Not sure if it really is Howson that should give way, but possibly Crooks. With someone alongside that can provide the kind of energy in midfield that Howson once had, his wise head on the park could best be complemented by Luongo. I would complete a midfield 3 (Howson and Luongo) with McGree.
With regard to Giles and (especially) Jones, we have to start playing the ball into space for them to run onto and to get to the back line. Jones was at his best last season getting to the line and working along it to play across the six yard box to create many golden goal scoring opportunities. I just haven't seen any of that this year.
Up front it would be good to see Akpom and Munitz together, with Watmore as the impact set of fresh legs harrying tired defenders.
Dijksteel has to start as does Fry. Probably on balance for me I would go with Lenihan, but perhaps could understand Clark getting another opportunity to show he has bedded in and has some worth.
Goalkeeper - either of , but I actually feel more comfortable with Roberts of the two.
If CW is having his head turned, then let Bournemouth have him and they can top up the money paid for Tav with compensation for us losing CW. But make it now and not later. Could do worse than take Scott Parker on to replace him.
Saturday's result? I will borrow OFB's eyeballs in the sky for this one.
CoB
Great Post and I agree with all of it.
Boro got caught out by letting Tavernier go without sourcing an adequate replacement for the midfield. Crooks has looked decidedly unfit this season and not the player he started out to be.
OFB
@original-fat-bob. To me, Crooks looks to playing within himself ever since CW criticised him for the number of yellow cards he picked up last season.
He looks to have lost some of his bite and drive as a consequence of that criticism.
Sat at Gatwick waiting for flight back to Spain. 😎
@martin-bellamy _ 1970, when I was at school in Redcar...!
@original-fat-bob. To me, Crooks looks to playing within himself ever since CW criticised him for the number of yellow cards he picked up last season.
He looks to have lost some of his bite and drive as a consequence of that criticism.
Sat at Gatwick waiting for flight back to Spain. 😎
Safe home KP
Well I am sure Mr Wilder will clarify the current situation and betting rumours circulating with regards to the Bournemouth job………just like he did over the Burnley scenario. 🤣
Hope you enjoyed your visit KP if not the football.
Dormo’s mention of Sir William Turner’s school brought back happy memories as I was also a pupil there from 1959 to 1967. They were good times for me.
Dormo’s mention of Sir William Turner’s school brought back happy memories as I was also a pupil there from 1959 to 1967. They were good times for me.
I was at SWT from 1950 and whilst agreeing they were happy days, but apart from being a member of the philately club and being in the school choir I wish that I’d entered the drama group. Whether I’d have had the talent to be an amateur actor I’ll never know but I found that the evening homework (‘prep’ we called it) restricted my social life so much at the time, but nevertheless was a good grounding later on in life when I spent 5 days a week in my bedroom doing a correspondence course to become a certified accountant.
At the time it was hard for me and probably just as hard for my girl friend only meeting twice a week at weekends, and I thought then that not many 16 year old girls would carry on a courtship on those terms and we were not even engaged. So I was forever grateful for her for standing by me, and I just knew that I could trust her and she eventually became my teenage bride. Ah!
Personally I can’t see why Chris Wilder would leave Boro, nor why Gary O’Neill shouldn’t continue as Bournemouth manager especially the way that results have ensued following that 9-0 thrashing at Anfield. I can’t imagine Steve Gibson giving permission to Bournemouth to interview him either, but I suppose stranger things have happened in the past.
However if Wilder were to leave there are only two possibilities to replace him in my opinion, Sean Dyche or Nigel Pearson.
Dormo’s mention of Sir William Turner’s school brought back happy memories as I was also a pupil there from 1959 to 1967. They were good times for me.
I was at SWT from 1950 and whilst agreeing they were happy days, but apart from being a member of the philately club and being in the school choir I wish that I’d entered the drama group.
Ken
Philately will get you nowhere!
@martin-bellamy _ 1970, when I was at school in Redcar...!
And I was at school in Guisborough. Happy(ish) days…
@pedro. Had a great two weeks catching up with family and meeting grandchildren for the first time. Only blot on the trip was the visit to the Riverside which I had been so looking forward to only to experience a truly disappointing evening.
There again I should have known better given my life long experiences as a Boro supporter. I am sure it will be better next time!
At least this Saturday I can only listen to the game unless someone (Werder? our hero) comes up with an un official stream please. 😎
OFB
Not quite sure what to make of that Bob. If it is picking up on genuine disquiet, than I say SG should be in the background engaging with and encouraging AFC Bournemouth to speak to CW to get him away from the club as quickly as possible, so we wouldn't have to sack him and pay off his contract, but as I suggested in my earlier post, we could get compensation from AFCB instead.
On the other hand, if it is just paper talk, then I would expect to see CW more obviously up for it and a group of players that are clearly enjoying playing for him.
For me, I am not convinced by him. I think CW is more interested in CW than he is in CW at MFC necessarily.
I would like to be wrong in that and perhaps the performance to come on Saturday will the one that starts to prove me wrong.
Lets see, but with the World Cup break coming up, I expect there will be one or two managers on and off the merry-go-round over the next couple of months.
One Twitter feed accused Wilder of applying for every vacant job since the Burnley one to aggravate Gibson into sacking him and him receiving compensation. Gibson apparently won’t give Wilder the satisfaction of getting paid off so the stalemate goes on.
A few wins under our belt and a climb up the table should put all these rumours to bed and put smiles on everyone’s faces !
😊😀😀
OFB
Latest Breaking News !
Apparently Gareth Southgate is very close to getting the sack according to one source.
When asked why? the response was “It’s because of the recent poor results at Middlesbrough!”
OFB
De-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-didle-de-de-de. No, I haven’t quite lost my marbles yet, but that was the signature tune called “Out of the Blue” and played by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force at the beginning of the BBC’s Light Programme ‘Sports Report’ first presented by Raymond Glendenning and subsequently Eamonn Andrews on a Saturday night in January 1948 at 5pm and still going strong as it celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023 now of course on 5 live.
It holds special memories for me as James Alexander Gordon amongst others read out the football results at the beginning of the programme and the lilt of his voice could always tell one whether it was a home win, draw or away win before the away side’s score was revealed. Of course I was unable to hear the beginning of the programme when Boro were at home except in the winter months when all matches commenced at 2.15 pm although eventually a repeat of the classified results were given at 5.50 pm.
It was pure magic to listen to all 44 English and 18 Scottish results in one fell swoop including clubs like Third Lanark in Scotland now well forgotten. My moment of glory ??? came on a coach in Massachusetts when I was given the mike on the 15th October 1994 and had to say Luton Town 5 Middlesbrough 1, certainly a bitter-sweet moment.
De-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-didle-de-de-de. No, I haven’t quite lost my marbles yet, but that was the signature tune called “Out of the Blue” and played by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force at the beginning of the BBC’s Light Programme ‘Sports Report’ first presented by Raymond Glendenning and subsequently Eamonn Andrews on a Saturday night in January 1948 at 5pm and still going strong as it celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023 now of course on 5 live.
It holds special memories for me as James Alexander Gordon amongst others read out the football results at the beginning of the programme and the lilt of his voice could always tell one whether it was a home win, draw or away win before the away side’s score was revealed. Of course I was unable to hear the beginning of the programme when Boro were at home as I travelled home on the United bus back home to Redcar except during the winter months when all matches commenced at 2.15 pm although eventually a repeat of the classified results were given at 5.50 pm.
It was pure magic to listen to all 44 English and 18 Scottish results in one fell swoop including clubs like Third Lanark in Scotland now well forgotten. My moment of glory ??? came on a coach in Massachusetts when I was given the mike on the 15th October 1994 and had to relay the results from my short wave radio with Luton Town 5 Middlesbrough 1, certainly a bitter-sweet moment.
@original-fat-bob. That probably came from a local journalist as they are always up to date with inside information! 😂😂😂
MFC are still offering £10 match video passes for overseas viewers for the Coventry game, despite this match having been chosen for International broadcast which precludes both clubs from streaming the game live.
I have checked the EFL website and it clearly indicates this game is not eligible for streaming. It has also been reported on the Coventry website and also on here by OFB.
Clearly not everyone up to speed at MFC.😎
Latest Breaking News !
Apparently Gareth Southgate is very close to getting the sack according to one source.
When asked why? the response was “It’s because of the recent poor results at Middlesbrough!”
OFB
🤣
Bob, as someone who likes watching horse racing, and has a bet on the National every year, may I say that when Bookmakers go from 10 -1 to 1-3 you can consider it a done job. Yes, sometimes the horse falls over, but not often. So we can at last bid farewell to our illustrious Manager, there are many happy memories. Lent out a player who then exploded like a rocket all over the league, headlines all the way, which giant would he sign for? What price would he bring? None of which bothered our pretty heads, for we had nothing to do with it, quite amazing, but there you are. Club management at it's best you know it makes sense.
Bob, as someone who likes watching horse racing, and has a bet on the National every year, may I say that when Bookmakers go from 10 -1 to 1-3 you can consider it a done job. Yes, sometimes the horse falls over, but not often. So we can at last bid farewell to our illustrious Manager, there are many happy memories. Lent out a player who then exploded like a rocket all over the league, headlines all the way, which giant would he sign for? What price would he bring? None of which bothered our pretty heads, for we had nothing to do with it, quite amazing, but there you are. Club management at it's best you know it makes sense.
Here’s the current betting from William Hill. Maybe you should pile on at 2/1.
The bookmakers adjust their prices according to bets placed. The fewer bets placed, the more volatile the market.
Next Manager markets are famously volatile due to the small number of bets generally placed. Once a rumour goes around it only takes a few bets for the odds to be shortened and you can guarantee that each bookmaker is keeping a close eye on their competitors so as not to be exposed. A large bet will have a similar effect.
In this case we saw that some bets/a large bet were placed on Wilder but just a quickly, more bets/larger bets have been placed on O’Neil and one or two others.
All the noises from both clubs involved are that Wilder will not be Bournemouth’s next manager. It would be a big surprise now if he is.
What also seems to be the case, however, is that our manager is rated more highly beyond Teesside than he currently is within.